Terms of Surrender

SEX RATING: SCORCHING

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SIREN SEX Rating

SENSUAL:
Sensual romance with love scenes comparative to most romance novels published today

STEAMY:
Heavy sexual tension; graphic details; may contain coarse language
SIZZLING:
Erotic, graphic sex; explicit sexual language; may offend delicate readers
SCORCHING:
Erotica; contains many sexual encounters; may contain unconventional sex; will offend delicate readers

SEXTREME:
Excessiveness; many instances of unconventional sex; may be hardcore; not for the faint-hearted

Gracie C. McKeever

The Matchmaker, Book 2

Beneath the Surface : Terms of Surrender : Manifest Destiny

Angela Calminetti, mother of five, New Age practitioner and gifted psychic and telepath, is proud of her family ties and does everything she can to make sure that all of her younger siblings are as happy in love and marriage as she is…whether they want her to or not.

Note: Each book is written to stand alone.

Terms of Surrender

Slany Breeze has been in control, of herself and her family, since she was an early teen when her mother was killed in a tragic accident and her father retreated into himself, a broken and lost spirit.

But Slany's tired of being the strong and responsible daughter and the dependable and inspirational big sister. Just once, she'd like to give over the reins of control and let someone else take care of her every need and want. Wanting, however, and admitting her secret longings to the one man willing and capable of satisfying them, are two different things.

Nick Vega has come a long way from his bad boy, rebellious childhood when a learning disability was the bane of his disappointed father's existence.

Once he discovers Slany's submissive nature and the stalker from his past that threatens her, he will do whatever it takes to protect his new claim and woman.

TERMS OF SURRENDER

The Matchmaker, Book 2

GRACIE C. MCKEEVER

Siren Publishing, Inc.

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TERMS OF SURRENDER

Copyright © 2006 by Gracie C. McKeever

First E-book Publication: October 2006

ISBN: 1-933563-37-0

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED:
This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

Cover art by Jinger Heaston

All cover art and logo copyright © 2006 Siren Publishing, Inc.

PUBLISHER

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

Terms of Surrender

The Matchmaker, Book 2

By Gracie C. McKeever

Copyright © 2006

Wantagh, Long Island

"Your plan to get Nick and Slany Breeze together didn't go too well," Evelyn observed.

She'd never seen her brother so angry.

"It went fine," Angela said, grinning as she worked the soil in her backyard patio, preparing to plant seeds for more of her perennials.

Evelyn arched a brow. After raising five rambunctious kids and a husband, her sister had finally lost it. Maybe Evelyn just needed to take up gardening too if it gave one such a sunny and optimistic outlook on life.
More like unrealistic.
"You can't be serious, Angie."

"Oh, I admit it was rough going, but the seeds have been planted, and now they have things to think about."

"I like the way you're working your gardening into the conversation."

Angela laughed.

Evelyn didn't see the humor, or maybe she was just being too cynical. "The only thing they'll have to think about is how much they already hate each other."

Angela winced, and Evelyn wanted to bite out her tongue, knowing how her sister felt about that word, even as a figure of speech. Angela had forbidden her children or anyone in her orbit to use it around her. Her son, Vince, had slipped once and used it to address his little sister, Danni, and that had been an occasion the Vega family had yet to forget.

1

Gracie C. McKeever

"Okay, maybe hate is too strong a word," Evelyn said now, by way of apology.

"Maybe."

"The point is, Slany and Nick do not like each other."

"That'll change." Angela proffered a hand, and Evelyn passed her more seeds to plant.

"They just need a little time to get a handle on their feelings."

"What do you consider 'a little time'—the next millennium?"

Angela silently smiled, as if at a private joke.

Evelyn wished the woman would let her in on it, but wouldn't get excited over it. Hell, it was Angie's neck in the noose. Angie on Nick's personal shit-list, not her.

Who was she kidding? If Nick's reaction to the "Labor Day Incident" was any indication, then Evelyn was on her brother's shit list, too, since he hadn't bothered to return any of her calls in the last week.

She could easily have put down his slight to extreme busyness, but Nick usually returned his calls on the same day he got them. And he'd been ignoring her calls to his cell phone, too.

Evelyn didn't know whom to be angrier at. She was either mad at Nick for his rudeness and snubs, or at herself for letting Angie drag her into her matchmaking schemes yet again.

"He'll come around, Evie." Angela glanced up from her digging, wiped a hand on her apron, and took a deep breath. "And he's not taking my calls, either, in case you're wondering."

"You're the one who set the whole thing up. He
shouldn't
take your calls." Evelyn pouted, then chuckled at her sister's amused look. "You are such a troublemaker."

"Troublemaker, matchmaker—same difference."

"I don't remember it being this difficult with EJ and Tabitha. Was it?"

"Of course it was. And look how well that turned out."

Evelyn had to admit it had turned out nicely. EJ was happily married, with one kid and one on the way. She couldn't have asked for a better match or a sweeter sister-in-law.

The problem was, Slany was something of a wildcard. Unlike Tabitha, neither Angela nor Evelyn knew much about the woman except what Nick mentioned, and he was biased.

She wondered what had started the obvious feud between the ad executives. Was it something personal, or business-related? Sure, Nick could be a maddening smart-aleck sometimes, but he was a lovable, maddening smart aleck who cared about people. He was so protective, sometimes to his own detriment.

But all the caring and protectiveness in the world wouldn't matter one iota to Ms. Breeze if she had gotten a whiff of Nick's stubborn pride or dominant nature first.

Most women would find it hard dealing with Nick's assertiveness, especially someone weak-willed or with low self-esteem. Although her encounter with the woman at the cookout had been brief, Slany hadn't come off as either of these two to Evelyn. Slany probably couldn't have survived in the advertising game with Nick and his kin if she didn't have a dominant streak of her 2

Terms of Surrender

own. As a matter of fact, Evelyn distinctly remembered the woman standing toe-to-toe with Nick in their parents' backyard, exchanging all manners of retorts and barbs.

And maybe that was the crux of the matter right there. They were—

"So much alike," Angela said, vocalizing and finishing Evelyn's thoughts in her offhanded, inimitable style. "But they'll get beyond that soon enough to embrace and enjoy their differences."

She said that with such certainty, Evelyn didn't doubt it. When she thought of her little nephew James and his parents, she had a feeling that maybe Slany and Nick would work.

Angela reached over and patted her hand. "Haven't you been watching my magic act lately? Have faith, sister dear."

Oh, she had faith, all right. But she also lived in the real world, and realistically, Nick and Slany had a long way to go before they embraced or enjoyed any of each others’ differences.

3

Gracie C. McKeever

Manhattan, New York—Eight Months Later

Nick Vega knew he was fair game now, knew how his oldest sister’s matchmaking mind worked. First she’d get the youngest sibs out of the way—EJ and him, the confirmed bachelors.

Then, she’d work on their three divorced sisters in short order. EJ was down. Nick was next.

Nick’s phone rang, as if on cue, and he answered it to hear his oldest sister's mellifluous voice float out to him before he plugged in and put on his earphones.

"You haven't been over to dinner in a long time, little bro. You're overdue."

Oh hell, here comes the soft sell.
“How many sisters do Freddie's friends have?"

"Don't be a wise-ass. Just come over tomorrow after work. I'm making your favorite."

"That could mean anything. Give me a hint."

"I forgot you like everything." Angela chuckled. "How's lasagna sound?"

"Yours? Sounds like heaven."

"I'll expect to see you no later than seven."

"Right, General." Nick listened to his sister laugh at one of his many monikers for her.

"Oh, and don't forget the Fourth at my house."

"You're not going to be pulling any tricks like you did last Labor Day, are you?"